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Loaded with veggies and tons of flavor, this BBQ Kidney Bean Kale Burger recipe is so easy and holds up perfectly! They stay crispy on the outside and moist and flavorful on the inside. They are baked, not fried, and need NO oil! Make a double batch and freeze leftovers for another night!
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It is warming up outside and we are heading towards BBQ season. Who’s excited for backyard parties and cookouts? If you think you can’t enjoy some delicious BBQ eats on a plant based diet, you are so wrong!
These Kidney Bean Kale Burgers are super easy to make and BAKED, not fried. That means you can throw them in the oven and go join the party while they cook.
I have a feeling they would work on the grill as well, although I have admittedly never tried that. You can, and should, enjoy these hearty burgers all year round.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a veggie burger that fell apart or smooshed out the sides of the bun the second you took a bite. Yeah, I hate that too! I’m happy to report that this BBQ Kale Burger holds together perfectly! Baking it keeps the outside nice and crispy and the inside moist and flavorful.
BBQ Tahini Sauce
This hearty handheld was inspired by my friend Sophia’s Barbecue Tahini Sauce over at Veggies Don’t Bite. This sauce is seriously one of the best things I have ever eaten! I make it all the time! And I pretty much eat the whole batch myself! It is THAT good! (Try using it as a dip for tortilla chips – might sound weird, but it’s so yummy!)
I used most of the ingredients in Sophia’s BBQ Tahini sauce to flavor these burgers and it worked out so well! And, of course, to serve these burgers, I slathered them in even more of her sauce. Mmmmmm.
Besides being super delicious, here are a few other reasons you should go make these now:
-There is NO oil in these burgers and you don’t need oil to cook them either!
-They are loaded with healthy veggies.
-They are quick and easy!
-They are gluten free if you use certified gluten free oats.
-You could easily make a double batch and feed a crowd.
-They can be made ahead and frozen until you need them.
Alright, now that we got that out of the way, wanna know how to make this veggie burger recipe?
More vegan burger recipes
Be sure to check out these Vegan Side Dishes that are perfect with BBQ!
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the star rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment with your feedback. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!
BBQ Kidney Bean Kale Burger
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp flaxmeal
- 3 tbsp water
- 1 15 oz can red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 15 oz can white kidney beans (cannellini beans) (drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup chopped kale
- 1 cup shredded carrot
- 2 garlic cloves
- 4 tbsp tahini
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp molasses
- 1 tsp liquid smoke (I like the hickory flavor)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp oregano
- salt/pepper to taste
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs or cornmeal (use gluten free Panko if desired)
- ½ cup oats (use certified gluten free oats if desired)
For Serving:
- 8 burger buns (gluten free, if desired)
- BBQ Tahini Sauce (optional)
- pickles
- kale, spinach, or lettuce
- tomato slices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flax meal and water and set aside.
- In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the kale, carrots, and garlic a few times to start to break them down, but don’t puree them!
- Add the beans, tahini, tomato paste, vinegar, molasses, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, and oregano to the veggies in the food processor and pulse until combined, but still a little chunky.
- Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add the panko (or cornmeal), oats, flax egg, and salt/pepper. Stir until fully incorporated. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
- The mixture should come together easily and hold together well. (If it is too wet, add a tbsp more panko or oats. If it is too dry and crumbly, add another tbsp of tomato paste or tahini. Mix again.)
- Using your hands, divide mixture into 8 sections and form each one into a patty. Place the burger onto the parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
- Bake the burgers for 35-40 minutes, flipping them over after 20 minutes. (After 20 minutes, the bottoms of the burgers should be nicely browned and they should flip easily, holding together well.) The burgers are done when they are nicely browned on both sides and crispy on the outside.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are calculated using online calculators and are estimates only. Please verify using your own data.
Alisa Fleming
Have you been crowned the veggie burger queen yet? If not, I think it needs to happen.
Jenn S.
HaHa, I don’t think so. But thank you! We do eat them quite a bit!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
I’ll take extra pickles and extra sauce on mine, please! Yummy!
Jenn S.
Always extra pickles!! 🙂 Thanks, Amy!
Sarah
I love a good homemade veggie burger! And I agree—baking them in the oven can be so convenient! Sometimes I pull them out just as they’re done and pop them in a pan on the stovetop to crisp them up a tiny bit more! Yum!
Jenn S.
Thank you, Sarah! Great idea to finish them of in a pan on the stovetop! I might just try that next time! 🙂
Kristina - Love & Zest
A good tahini sauce is hard to beat! I love it when recipes inspire me to make something delicious! This looks great!
Jenn S.
So true – tahini is the best! Thanks, Kristina!
Cadry
I totally hear you on the sadness of the smooshy burger. That happens way too often! I’m glad I can skip that sadness with your delicious BBQ kidney bean kale burger. It looks divine!
Jenn S.
Smooshy veggie burgers should be banished! 🙂 Thanks, Cadry!
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
Wow! This burger sounds phenomenal! So full of flavor!
Jenn S.
Thank you, Sonali! Definitely flavorful!
Emily Kyle
This looks so yummy, perfect for summer! I even think I have all of the ingredients to make these this weekend, thanks!
Jenn S.
Oh great. I hope you love them! Let me know if you give them a try. Thanks, Emily!
Julie Running in a Skirt
Kale in a burger and bbq tahini sauce???? YYYYAAAASSS!! This sounds incredible.
Jenn S.
I take every chance I get to sneak in more leafy greens for the kids! 🙂 And YES, you must try the BBQ Tahini Sauce – it’s amazing! Thanks, Julie!
Claire Jessiman
Gorgeous meat free burger recipe. Love the addition of liquid smoke and the fact that they don’t fall apart when cooking. Great addition to meat free Monday to encourage more people to eat less meat.
Jenn S.
Thank you, Claire! Perfect for Meatless Monday!
Laura | Wandercooks
Haha keen as beans (pardon the pun) to cook this recipe and also to try your BBQ tahini sauce – I recently fell in love with tahini experimenting with bliss balls and I’m on the hunt for more recipes to make with it. Thanks for the inspo!
Jenn S.
Thank you, Laura! Tahini is one of my favorite things! And it is great in savory and sweet (love it paired with chocolate!). The BBQ Tahini Sauce is actually the genius creation of Sophia at Veggies Don’t Bite. You really should try it! So good!
Ginny McMeans
Love the flavorful ingredients. Liquid smoke and all the spices mixed with great veggies. Yum!
Jenn S.
Thank you, Ginny! Liquid smoke is a favorite of mine. I had to buy a new bottle just yesterday as I go through it so fast!
Shumaila
That tahini sauce sounds lovely. Love a good bean burger and this sounds great!
Jenn S.
It’s so good! You really must try it. Thanks, Shumaila!
Rebecca
this sounds like the perfect veggie combo for a good burger. yum
Jenn S.
Thank you, Rebecca!
sara | belly rumbles
I love that these guys can be baked as well. They look so deliciously crunchy and sound awesomely tasty. A great one to add to the veg burger rotation.
Jenn S.
Thanks, Sara! We definitely love our veggie burgers around here so it’s nice to have some variation. I hope you enjoy it!
Taylor Kiser
Love getting all the healthy veggies in this burger! Making extra and freezing is a great idea! Perfect for busy days when you need a quick dinner!
Jenn S.
I try to sneak in more veggies every chance I get! Thanks, Taylor!